The Swedish Parliament’s Committee on Education visited the Swedish School in Sydney HSC group

On August 31, the High School Certificate (HSC) group of students 24/25 at the Swedish School in Sydney hosted representatives from the embassy and 12 delegates from the Swedish Parliament’s Committee on Education.

Typically, the committee delegates visit nearby regions in Europe to study their education systems, but this time they chose to visit Sydney. The Committee on Education was welcomed by Head Teacher Pernilla Thakur Lundqvist, Swedish Continuers teacher Cecilia Smith, former HSC student Tobias Thakur, and the current HSC group 24/25.

Head Teacher Pernilla Thakur Lundqvist gave a brief overview of supplementary education worldwide. In total, there are 106 associations globally offering supplementary Swedish education, with 16 located in Oceania (according to statistics from the Swedish National Agency for Education, 2023). The Swedish School in Sydney has approximately 161 students, making it the largest school association in Oceania. In 2024, 16% of the school’s 161 students are studying Swedish as an HSC subject (Swedish Continuers) divided into two groups: one sitting for oral exams on the same date and one that the Committee on Education would meet. Pernilla further explained that students’ proficiency in Swedish varies depending on how many languages are spoken at home, whether they have two Swedish-speaking parents and the student’s motivation.

Cecilia shared her experiences teaching in both the Swedish and Australian education systems, providing information about the structure of the HSC Swedish Continuers course, its content, and the prerequisites in Swedish required to take the course. The curriculum for Swedish Continuers has recently been updated, and the Swedish and Australian syllabi for English/Swedish are now more closely aligned. In contrast to the Swedish system, where final grades in Year 12 are assessed by the student’s teachers, final grades here in Australia are centrally assessed.

Tobias answered various questions about the Swedish education system compared to the Australian one from a student’s perspective. Having attended the Natural Sciences program at Leksand Gymnasium for three months, Tobias noted significant similarities in the natural sciences subjects but not in the humanities. He also explained how the ATAR grading system works and how it is used for university admissions. The HSC group 24/25 shared their reasons for choosing to study Swedish as an HSC subject. The Swedish School then treated everyone to focaccia and cinnamon buns from Funkis Köket.

Later in the week, the Committee on Education also visited Alexandria Park Community School, where one of the Swedish School’s teachers, Theresa Virmo, works. During the visit, she had the opportunity to speak with some of the delegates, answer a few questions, and provide insights into APCS and the education system in New South Wales (NSW) more generally.

CONTACT

principal@swedishschoolinsydney.org.au

www.swedishschoolinsydney.org.au